Preserving the ideals of Dr William Penny Brookes – the inspiration for the modern Olympic Movement

Wenlock Olympian Society is a significant contributor to the development of the modern International Olympic Movement. The Society was founded by William Penny Brookes in 1850 as ‘Wenlock Olympian Class’ to provide “annual competitions in sports and the arts for people of every grade” – and so Wenlock Olympian Games was born. It continues today, still held in Shropshire, centred around the town of Much Wenlock.